Morris's Grill, a popular Skaneateles bar, closed in lease dispute

Mike Greenlar / The Post Standard Steve Benesch 46 of Skaneateles looks at the closed sign Wednesday at the Morris's in the village of Skaneateles where he was a steady customer since turning 18.

Skaneateles, NY -- If you weren't at the Morris's Grill Tuesday night, you missed last call.

Patrons of the Skaneateles bar found the doors locked today after two Onondaga County sheriff's deputies showed up this morning with orders to evict the bar.

"It's the first time since Prohibition that the bar has been closed," bar owner Mary Jayne Lipe said.

The battle over the future of the Morris began in September, when the bar's five-year lease expired. Bar owner Burt Lipe, Mary Jayne's late husband, died Oct. 10 without a new lease in place, and subsequent negotiations have failed to produce a new agreement.

In January, Skaneateles Town Judge Kathleen Dell ruled that building owner Jeremy Gorelick could evict Morris Grill Corp., which owns the state-issued liquor license for the bar. As a result of that decision, deputies showed up today and closed the bar.

A second legal action -- to decide if Burt Lipe's estate still has a valid lease -- is still pending in state Supreme Court